Chapter 161: The Magician's Reflection
Chapter 161: The Magician's Reflection
Felix strolled down the streets of Paris. A few hundred meters ahead was the Left Bank of the Seine River, lined with various meticulously decorated shops, many of which exuded an exotic charm.
For example, there was a paper-cutting shop with a variety of paper decorations displayed outside. From small, colorful animals to intricate and elaborate indoor ornaments, the selection was dazzling.
The shop owner was a young woman with a colorful headband. When Felix entered the shop, she greeted him enthusiastically and tried to sell him some items.
In the end, Felix chose a colorful windmill that he could hold in his hand.
A week before the conference, Felix spent two days exploring Paris. From the Musée d'Orsay to the Louvre, and then to the world-renowned Notre-Dame Cathedral, he immersed himself in the city's culture, customs, and fine cuisine as a pure tourist.
After all, in the note he sent to the French Ministry of Magic, he had scheduled his arrival in Paris for three days later.
On a grand, bustling street, tourists from all over the world mingled. Looking up, one could see the iconic landmark of the 7th arrondissement—the Eiffel Tower.
A young couple each held a child's hand, with half-eaten ice cream cones in the other.
"Mom, mom, I want a flower, I want a flower", the little boy pointed out.
Following his direction, the couple saw that about ten meters away, a group of seven or eight children and their families were gathered around a young man. He was handsome, slender, and had a gentle smile on his face. His black hair and light blue eyes, clear as a sunny sky, gave him a pure and innocent look.
Felix kept his left hand behind his back and snapped his right fingers lightly. A bright yellow tulip suddenly appeared in his hand, which he then handed to a child in front of him.
"He's a street magician", the child's father said.
"Looks impressive", the child's mother said, her eyes fixed on Felix's hands, unable to spot any trick.
The couple walked over with their child. Felix showed everyone his empty hands, except for an emerald ring on his left hand.
Under the curious gazes of the onlookers, he clasped his hands together in a prayer-like gesture. A series of "chirping" sounds came from his closed hands.
"Wow!"
Several children opened their mouths wide in amazement, and even their parents looked astonished.
Felix slowly opened his palms to reveal a small bird with colorful feathers. The bird turned its neck flexibly, unafraid and curiously observing its surroundings. Its small, black eyes were endearing.
The bird groomed its feathers on its own and flew away when a child tried to touch it.
The crowd looked up, following the bird's flight path until it disappeared into the sky.
Felix bowed, politely declining some coins and banknotes, and then drifted away.
...
At the University of Paris, Felix wandered through the famous institution, where the scenery was picturesque. Many students of his age sat on the lawns, chatting freely and leisurely.
A pair of young girls looked at him curiously. A student with grape-purple hair whispered to her friend, "Look, that guy is very handsome. Which college is he from?"
Her friend replied confidently, "Definitely not ours."
"So, he might be from another school or a tourist?"
"You can go ask him."
"Why not?" The purple-haired girl stood up and approached Felix, speaking in a somewhat laid-back French. "Hi, I'm Amandine Zoe."
Felix turned around and said warmly, "Hi, Miss Zoe. You can call me Felix, Felix Hepworth."
Amandine paused, then said, "Your eyes are beautiful. And you can call me Amandine."
"Sure, Amandine."
Amandine was very talkative and friendly, acting as a guide for Felix as she introduced him to her university.
"This is the history building... this is the humanities... Oh, I remember, there's a very famous philosophy professor giving an Open Class today!"
Amandine's eyes widened, her expression hesitant as she seemed to weigh the options between Felix and the Open Class.
"Can I go see it?" Felix asked with a smile.
"Of course, I thought you wouldn't be interested in philosophy", she sighed in relief.
"I'm not very familiar with it, but it's nice to listen in occasionally."
Amandine led Felix into a spacious lecture hall, noticing her friend glaring at her out of the corner of her eye. She gave a sheepish smile and pulled Felix to a seat.
The Open Class began, and the large classroom dimmed as a beam of light shone on the center.
A middle-aged man, dressed formally, stood on the podium. His gaze was deep, and his tone unhurried. "What is existence? What is the meaning of human existence?"
"Before you were even born, we experienced an age of faith crisis. As Nietzsche put it, we never realized more clearly than at that time that 'God is dead.'"
"We went through a transformation in thought, and war made us question the meaning of life. From Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky, to Sartre and Camus after World War II, this period reached its peak and has since quietly faded away."
"Someone coined the term existentialism, but existentialism cannot be considered a systematic philosophical category. There is no such thing as a discipline of existentialist philosophy; it is at most a label."
"I want to share some common thoughts on 'existence' with you—"
"For example, you are the result of your choices."
"Another example is that time is the only measure of existence."
...
"Many people think existentialism was born in the coffee shops of the Left Bank of Paris, a product of the imaginations of a group of decadents. But this is a completely stereotypical impression. Many people are quietly practicing some praiseworthy existentialist views in their daily lives."
"Hardship and adversity bring despair, and despair leads us to question the meaning of existence. This questioning brings about a new beginning."
Unconsciously, two hours had passed.
A student raised their hand to ask a question. "Under normal circumstances, we don't question the meaning of existence. This thought only arises in moments of pessimism and despair. Does this mean that existentialism is essentially a pessimistic doctrine?"
"Are we studying existentialism to prevent others from studying it?"
The professor, with a humorous tone, replied, "That's an interesting perspective. You should consider applying for my graduate program."
"I need to emphasize that existentialism is a form of rational and logical optimism. Imagine your life falling into a dark void—war, famine, the replacement of humans by technology. In short, you can't find any meaning in your existence."
"At such a time, existentialism will tell you that even though your life is filled with tragedy, we must still strive to live and choose the meaning of our own lives. You will discover that your existence itself adds variables to the world, both good and bad, constantly fluctuating."
Many students raised their hands.
The professor pointed to Felix.
Felix stood up. "Professor, my name is Felix Hepworth. In your lecture, you mentioned a view that existence is about seeing, perceiving, and experiencing. How do we perceive and experience things that are far away, or may never even appear in reality, such as magic in movies?"
His question made some students chuckle quietly—some saw his blending of rational philosophical inquiry with the irrational topic of magic as a challenge to the classroom's order.
A couple of students whistled, showing their approval of Felix's 'boldness.'
The professor thought for a moment before answering, "Magic is a product of our imagination, currently existing only in the realm of imagination, such as in movies, novels, and so on. So, do they really exist? Or are they just the products of our minds, making us believe they exist?"
"What if one day, magic really appears in reality?" Felix pressed on.
The professor chuckled, "That's an intriguing hypothesis. Whether magic truly exists has been a topic of discussion among many philosophers, directly or indirectly. But explaining it all would be too complex, so we can discuss it further after class—along with the student who earlier presented a pessimistic view."
"However, here is my personal opinion: If magic were to truly 'exist' in reality, no one would be unaware of it. With today's technological advancements, we have the capability to explore every corner of the world. Not even the sky and the sea can stop humanity's quest for exploration."
His explanation earned him a round of applause, but he soon realized he had encountered a persistent student—
"What I mean is, please forgive me, let's make a hypothesis. Suppose there is a small group of magicians who use various magical means to hide their existence, but one day, you discover them—"
Felix paused briefly, "What would you do?"
(End of Chapter)
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